Around 650 bus drivers are set to go on a week-long strike in the lead up to Christmas in a dispute over pay.

The drivers will begin strike action on Sunday, December 16, potentially causing misery for travellers.

Union Unite announced the action on Monday. It claims drivers working for Arriva Durham County Ltd are the second lowest paid drivers of all Arriva bus companies across the UK.

Drivers at Redcar, Stockton, Darlington, Durham, and Whitby will walk out on December 16, until 11.59pm on Saturday, December 22, after voting by 95% for strike action for a £1 an hour rise from next March.

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Unite regional officer Bob Bolam said: “At the centre of this dispute is an understanding that the Arriva drivers in County Durham are the second lowest paid of all the bus drivers in the Arriva ‘family’ across the UK.

“Pay talks were held with the company on Friday and we are expecting a management response to those negotiations later this week.

"We also discussed speeding up the increments so that the drivers reach the top of their pay band more quickly.

“The last thing our members want is to take such industrial action in the run-up to Christmas as it will cause massive inconvenience to the travelling public.